Jeferson keller



2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

J. KELLER.

SWINGING COUGH.

110.518,54?. Patented Apr. 17, 1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. KELLER.

SWINGING GOUGH.

Patented Apr. 17,1894.

,w y Je JEEERsoN KELLER, oE FREDERICK, MARYLAND, AssIeNoR oE ONE-HALE To e. E. KELLER, E sAME PLACE.

SWINGING COUCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,547, dated April 1'?, 1894.-.

Application filed June l5, 1893.

.To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JEEERsoN KELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Frederick, in the county of Frederick and State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Swinging Couch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a swinging conch which is in the nature of a hammock, the objects in view being to provide a portable supporting frame of knock-down construction, whereby the device may be erected for use in any suitable or convenient location; to provide means for a longitudinal vibration of the boat; to provide means whereby a vibratory motion may be im parted to the boat either by hand or foot-power by the person occupying the same; and to provide simple and efficient `means forsupporting a mosquito netting over the boat.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims;

In the drawings- Figurel is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention t erected in its operative position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the supporting frame-work in its operative position with the boat removed. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the supporting frame work folded for transportation. Fig. 4 is a detail view in perspective of the footpower or treadle.

Similarnumerals of reference indicate cor ings.

The supporting framework comprises the oppositely inclined end braces 1, each consisting of parallel legs 2 connected by intersecting braces 3 at top and bottom, the upper ends of said end braces being connected by horizontal tie-bars 4 to the extremities of which the braces are pivoted, as shown at 5. Latch-bars 6 are pivoted at one end to the said tie-bars and are provided at the other end with a notch 7 to engage lateral studs 8 upon the legs of the end braces, whereby said latchbars areheld in position across the angles connecting the end braces and `tie-bars and maintain such parte in their proper relative positions. Swinging loops 9, the terminals of responding parts in all the figures of the draw- Sariallo.477,769.V (No model.)

the arms of which are pivotally connected to the inner sides of the legs 2, are arranged at opposite ends of the frame-work with` their lower closed ends arranged in a common horizontal plane to form supportingbars 10, and the boat 11 is Iitted at its ends between the arms of said swinging loops and is provided atits under side with transverse grooves 12 to receive the supporting-bars 10. K The construction of the boat may be varied to suit the requirements, but preferably consists of side-bars 13 connected at their terminals by end-bars 1i and at intermediate points by horizontal slats 15, whereby the boat is adapted to receive a cushion or mattress, which, however, is not shown in the drawings. y Pivotally connected to the side-bars of the boat at points adjacent to the extremities thereof are the head rests 16 which are adapt ed to fold within the body of the boat when not needed or when the device is prepared for transportation. Either or both of these one or two occupants.

For the convenience of passengers in swing ing the boat I have provided ahand `cord 17 which is connected at one end to a spring arm 18 secured to the end braces, such arm being formed integral with a torsion spring 19. I prefer to provide these spring arms in duplicate, one being attached to each end brace in order that a passenger facing in either direction may have the operating cord approach him in front, or in order that when more than one passenger occupies the boat, both may be provided with operating cords.

I have also provided means for operating the boat by foot-power when the swing is occupied by a single passenger, such device being shown in its operative position in Fig. l of the drawings and consisting, essentially, of a foot-bar or treadle 20, which is provided with notches 21 near its extremities to receive the arms of the swinging loop and having turnbuttons or similar locking devices 22 to hold said side arms in the notches. The passenger is enabled, by pressure upon this foot-bar or treadle, to give the boat the desired vibrationa It will be understood that this foot-bar or treadle is detachable, and may head rests may be employed to accommodate` -s n i 518,547

be applied to either swinging loop to accommodate the position of the occupant of the swlng. c

23 represents a mosquito-net bar Which is preferably of heavy Wire provided with depending ends which pass over the head rests and lit in suitable sockets 2i in thev end bars of the boat. An ordinary mosquito-netting may be arranged over this bar to protect the occupant of the boat from the attacks of dies, 85o.

Reference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings will show that the boat is detachable from the swinging loops, the latch-bars may be disengaged at their notched ends from the headed studs with which the end braces areA provided, said end braces may be folded into planes parallel with the tie-bars and that the swinging loops will fold withinthe end braces to which they are connected, thus arranging the parts of the device in a compact and portable form.

It is obvious that the mosquito-net bar is detachable from the boat by disengaging its extremities from the sockets in the end-bars, that the foot-bar or treadle may be disconnected from the loop to which it is attached and that the head rests, as above described, may be folded within the boat, thus arranging the parts of this member of the device in a compact form. l v

The advantages derived from a construction of the kind described are that the device may be erected either in doors or in the open air without respect to the positions of permanent objects, such as posts, trees, zc., inasmuch as it is entirely independentof such permanent means of support; and, furthermore, the entire structure can be folded into asut'- flciently compact form to enable it to be carried from place to place, as on a picnic or pleasure trip.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, proportion and minor details without-departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having f described my invention, what I claim is 1.Y The combination with a supporting frame-work, of swinging loops, a boat detachably connected at its ends to said loops, a footbar or treadle, and means for connecting the ends thereof to the side arms of either swinging loop, substantially as specified. f

21 The combination with a supporting frame-work, of swinging loops, a boat detachably connected to the lower ends of said loops,

folding head rests pivotally connected to the boat, respectively, at the opposite ends thereof a foot-bar or` treadle and means whereby said foot-bar or treadle may be applied to either swinging loop, substantially as specied.

3. The combination with Y a supporting frame-work, swinging loops connected thereto, and a boat supported by said swinging loops, of a yielding arm, a torsion spring connected to said arm and attached to the sup-r portingV frame-work, and an operating cord connected at one end to the free extremity of said arm, substantially as specified.

4. The combination with a supporting frame-work, swinging loops, a boat detachably secured at its ends to theloops, of a mosquitonet-bar extending longitudinally over the boat and having down-turned ends removably titted in sockets at the extremities of said boat, substantially as specified.

In Vtestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

h' l JEEERsoN is KELLER.

mark

Witnesses:

G. F. KELLER, GEO. M. CHAMBERS. 

